tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73152096201519370802018-05-22T09:00:57.395+01:00Ian Bennell's Birding BlogGiving you all my latest sightings no matter how dull they are!!!!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.comBlogger1406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-2022839525642596432018-04-29T15:40:00.006+01:002018-04-29T15:40:39.787+01:00Tring + College Lake - 28.4.18As I had a couple of hours to spare before Carey headed out for the day I shot up to Wilstone Reservoir hopefully for some more year ticks. I bumped into George who was walking back to his car but as he didn't have his scope he asked to look through mine for any <span style="color: red;">Arctic Terns</span>. Quite quickly I picked one out in the NW corner above the trees and got him onto it and then I found a <span style="color: red;">Common</span> <span style="color: red;">Sandpiper</span> on the barley bales. 2 year ticks in 2 minutes wasn't bad! He then left to join his girlfriend. I gave it another 30 minutes and in that time I added another <span style="color: red;">Arctic Tern</span>, <span style="color: red;">Sand Martin</span>, <span style="color: red;">Hobby</span> and <span style="color: red;">Yellow Wagtail</span> into the notebook.<br /><br />At Marsworth a <span style="color: red;">Reed Warbler</span> was singing and at Startops a<span style="color: red;"> Sedge Warbler</span> was singing next to the path.<br /><br />At College Lake I joined a mini twitch for the 69 <span style="color: red;">Black-tailed Godwits</span> that had dropped in earlier. They were joined after I left by another flock and totalled 102 birds! Also present were 2 <span style="color: red;">Common</span> <span style="color: red;">Sandpiper</span>, <span style="color: red;">LRP</span> and a singing <span style="color: red;">Lesser Whitethroat</span>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-52102497209043143332018-04-29T15:29:00.000+01:002018-04-29T15:29:29.491+01:00Watford - 26.4.18While cutting the grass at KGV playing fields my attention was turned by 3 <span style="color: red;">Goosander </span>(2 male) flying overhead towards Hampermill Lake!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-44834676478014820532018-04-29T15:19:00.001+01:002018-04-29T15:19:28.349+01:00Watford - 23.4.18A singing <span style="color: red;">Whitethroat</span> was a nice surprise at Harwoods Rec this morning. A first for that site from memory.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-21287681466552022382018-04-29T15:15:00.000+01:002018-04-29T15:17:19.223+01:00Watford + PENDULINE TIT!! - 16.4.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DtosvA0Ms6I/WuXTlKmQ9bI/AAAAAAAACVk/3XwQSQSYDrU-K_vvduOXH-aj-VGixf5pQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--790364769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DtosvA0Ms6I/WuXTlKmQ9bI/AAAAAAAACVk/3XwQSQSYDrU-K_vvduOXH-aj-VGixf5pQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--790364769.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QkjBlsZn_m8/WuXTjXcGyVI/AAAAAAAACVg/jTSX3T4dRHsW32DJ3dInc9ssKt56re3sACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-979513205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QkjBlsZn_m8/WuXTjXcGyVI/AAAAAAAACVg/jTSX3T4dRHsW32DJ3dInc9ssKt56re3sACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-979513205.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Penduline Tit</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>The day at work started off nicely with my first <span style="color: red;">Willow Warbler</span> of the year singing at Waterfield Rec but at lunchtime I checked my phone to see a message saying there was a <span style="color: red;">Penduline Tit</span> at Tyttenhanger! My friend Steve Blake had found it but it was a bit elusive. As it was a Monday I finished work at 3pm so I shot straight over there. I parked up and on the walk to the site I added <span style="color: red;">Tree Sparrow</span>, <span style="color: red;">Wheatear</span> and <span style="color: red;">Yellow Wagtail</span> to the year list. I arrived to find Steve still there along with Brendon and Terry to be told it'd been showing well until 10 minutes ago but had flown over some trees. Luckily 2 minutes later I saw some movement and there it was feeding on a group of 4 bulrushes. For the next 10 minutes or so it gradually came closer and closer until it was around 15-20 feet away and was showing brilliantly. At times it was heard calling too. Annoyingly when I'd left for work this morning I thought about taking my scope just in case but I didn't pack it so I had to make do with just my binoculars. Because of this the photos above are quite poor as they were taken with my phone hand held through my bins! Nevertheless a 1st for Herts isn't to be sniffed at so thanks again Steve! A singing <span style="color: red;">Lesser</span> <span style="color: red;">Whitethroat </span>was seen on the way back to the car so 6 year ticks today.<br /><br />Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-5771473261800994582018-04-29T14:54:00.002+01:002018-04-29T14:54:27.729+01:00Hilfield Reservoir - 15.4.18I was going to head up to Wilstone for a pair of <span style="color: red;">Black-necked Grebe</span> and some <span style="color: red;">Little Gulls</span> but with a possible <span style="color: red;">Glaucous Gull</span> at Hilfield I decided to pay a visit there instead. I arrived to find Steve Murray and Tony Blake on the dam but the possible Glauc had flown soon after it arrived. The visit wasn't a total loss as there were 6 <span style="color: red;">Little Gulls</span> showing nicely and the same number of <span style="color: red;">Black-necked</span> <span style="color: red;">Grebe</span>. 3 <span style="color: red;">House Martins</span> were also a year tick.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-70827149145777057422018-04-29T14:47:00.003+01:002018-04-29T14:47:51.762+01:00Kings Langley - 12.4.18Driving home I spotted my first 2 <span style="color: red;">Swallows</span> of the year perched on wires at Wayside Farm.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-78875088985624690172018-04-29T14:44:00.006+01:002018-04-29T14:46:32.199+01:00AMERICAN BITTERN!! - 8.4.18There I was on the evening of the 7th watching a film with my wife when at about 10.30pm a message popped up on my phone saying an <span style="color: red;">American Bittern</span> had been seen in Suffolk! It turns out one of the volunteer wardens had taken some great shots of what he thought was a <span style="color: red;">Eurasian Bittern</span> at Carlton Marshes NWT near Lowestoft and had posted them on Twitter as such. Alarm bells then began ringing with the first people to see them and sure enough it was an American! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xf_zQsJYZk8/WuXMc6nB5sI/AAAAAAAACVQ/WFaecn9WhtoQFkJMMmfVSCqSMfitMUM3gCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-494892748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xf_zQsJYZk8/WuXMc6nB5sI/AAAAAAAACVQ/WFaecn9WhtoQFkJMMmfVSCqSMfitMUM3gCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-494892748.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">American Bittern. Thanks to Craig Shaw for his photo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>Plans were made for a visit the next day with George and Matt and we were on site just after 9am. The hours ticked by and the rain started and stopped and with only a <span style="color: red;">Barn Owl</span> and <span style="color: red;">Marsh Harriers</span> to keep us interested we decided to call it a day at about 12.20pm and headed back on the 15-20 minute walk back to the car. We had just stepped into the car park when the warden came out to tell us that 10 minutes after we'd left it took flight alongside one of our <span style="color: red;">Bitterns</span> and dropped down again! He said he was heading back and did we want a lift! We settled into place again and thankfully 45 minutes later a bird got up. It was the <span style="color: red;">American Bittern</span>! 15 seconds of flight views showing the distinctive upper wing pattern and it dropped down and for those quick off the mark it showed in the field for a few seconds. Happy with that we headed for home with a most unexpected mega on our lists!<br /><br />At the time of writing its still present and at times giving amazing views feeding in the ditch so I might have to go back for seconds!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-77898215403848291762018-04-29T14:20:00.006+01:002018-04-29T14:20:59.350+01:00College Lake + Wilsotne Res - 5.4.18A patch visit was in order to try and get a few more year ticks on the list. 2 <span style="color: red;">Little Ringed Plovers</span> at College Lake was a nice start while at Wilstone 3 <span style="color: red;">Common Tern</span> and a nice male <span style="color: red;">Yellowhammer</span> were also added. Butterflies were present too with <span style="color: lime;">Brimstone</span>, <span style="color: lime;">Peacock</span> and <span style="color: lime;">Small Tortoiseshell</span> all be firsts&nbsp; for the year.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-72037228082006943852018-04-29T14:17:00.003+01:002018-04-29T14:17:45.702+01:00Oxhey Park - 26.3.18The first sound of Spring was heard today with a singing <span style="color: red;">Chiffchaff</span>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-78411100539746498322018-04-28T15:52:00.002+01:002018-04-28T15:53:59.144+01:00Norfolk - 18.3.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZxBOoF59_t8/WuSK5l8JtAI/AAAAAAAACU4/0KvqMc1jvXYVqwxinhuBJNN6gigcI3QYQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--66430246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZxBOoF59_t8/WuSK5l8JtAI/AAAAAAAACU4/0KvqMc1jvXYVqwxinhuBJNN6gigcI3QYQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--66430246.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Spoonbill</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>A trip up with George and Matt Moreton in very icy conditions was a mixed bag as two of our targets didn't show but I did manage a couple more Norfolk ticks. First stop was Santon Downham for my second attempt at the <span style="color: red;">Parrot Crossbill </span>flock but again I failed. We also failed to find any <span style="color: red;">Lesser-</span><span style="color: red;">spotted Woodpecker</span> but <span style="color: red;">Marsh Tit</span> and a nice male <span style="color: red;">Brambling</span> made up for it.<br /><br />At Cockley Cley our hoped for <span style="color: red;">Willow Tit</span> and <span style="color: red;">Goshawk</span> also failed. Another <span style="color: red;">Marsh Tit</span> and a Norfolk tick <span style="color: red;">Red Kite</span> eased the dipping!<br /><br />At Lakenheath/Hockwold washes we walked up to view over the washes and had a couple of <span style="color: red;">Little</span> <span style="color: red;">Egrets</span> quickly followed by another Norfolk tick in the shape of a <span style="color: red;">Great White Egret</span> as it flew over. As we had just lowered our bins from watching that Matt says there's a <span style="color: red;">Spoonbill</span>! Sure enough not too far away was a lovely <span style="color: red;">Spoonbill</span> amazingly awake but quite quickly it realised it had been rumbled and flew off to join the <span style="color: red;">GW Egret</span>! A <span style="color: red;">Whooper Swan</span> was showing well too.<br /><br />Our last stop was Cavenham Heath where quite quickly George found 2 <span style="color: red;">Stone Curlew</span> huddled down against the wind.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-45900089881622514172018-04-28T15:25:00.004+01:002018-04-28T15:55:04.089+01:00Cassiobury Park - 15.3.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NE8fbz9QYxw/WuSLKBg0AgI/AAAAAAAACVA/B2G8yu48Gy001Rj59rTC_fqvdhBp6kwTQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-31984790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NE8fbz9QYxw/WuSLKBg0AgI/AAAAAAAACVA/B2G8yu48Gy001Rj59rTC_fqvdhBp6kwTQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-31984790.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Little Owl</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>As if visiting the park on a Sunday was bad enough I again paid a visit but this time on the first day of my holiday from work! I joined the Watford RSPB group for a wander round and while it wasn't as exciting and rare filled as last time we did see some decent birds. A <span style="color: red;">Redpoll</span> flew over and 1 <span style="color: red;">Little</span> <span style="color: red;">Owl</span> was still in-situ. 3 <span style="color: red;">Mandarin</span> were seen flying around in the meadow and from the hide 10 <span style="color: red;">Siskin</span> and 2 <span style="color: red;">Coal Tit</span> were the highlights as was a nice pair of <span style="color: red;">Sparrowhawk</span> displaying above us.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-67530097537508018182018-04-28T15:20:00.000+01:002018-04-28T15:20:55.927+01:00Cassiobury Park - 25.2.18Going to one of my places of work on a Sunday morning isn't my idea of fun but when I saw a tweet from David Darrell-Lambert aka @birdbrainuk asking for help on the birds of the park for a new book he's writing&nbsp; I thought who better to show him what it has to offer than me! The first bird of the day was a fly over <span style="color: red;">Reed Bunting </span>which was only about the 5th record for the park! This was followed by 2<span style="color: red;"> Little Owls</span> sat in their usual tree looking down on us. An <span style="color: red;">Egyptian Goose</span> took off from the canal before we reached the hide. Another great bird for the park. As we neared the fishing lake a <span style="color: red;">Lesser-spotted Woodpecker</span> drummed and called a couple of times but wasn't seen and finally 2 <span style="color: red;">Coot </span>were on the fishing lake. Also a bit of a mega for the park! David, you can come again!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-7507500149989469892018-04-26T21:50:00.003+01:002018-04-26T21:54:11.808+01:00Norfolk - 28.1.18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwtH4Rlz6SA/WuI8DUtPg2I/AAAAAAAACUk/KHrKzV6X_k0fnkplYVGAskxjnmsiHfT1wCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1408526335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwtH4Rlz6SA/WuI8DUtPg2I/AAAAAAAACUk/KHrKzV6X_k0fnkplYVGAskxjnmsiHfT1wCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1408526335.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Glaucous Gull</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tvFEpMQveU/WuI8FAvnjFI/AAAAAAAACUo/C3Vt1q0zuoQ-2jXFuoEGVFTGHSRPQxybQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--401550237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tvFEpMQveU/WuI8FAvnjFI/AAAAAAAACUo/C3Vt1q0zuoQ-2jXFuoEGVFTGHSRPQxybQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--401550237.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Purple Sandpiper</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>I again joined Brendon and Ricky for a day out but this time in Norfolk.<br /><br />First stop was Santon Downham to hopefully see the good sized flock of <span style="color: red;">Parrot Crossbill</span> but they weren't seen. <span style="color: red;">Siskin</span> and <span style="color: red;">Brambling</span> were though so not a total blank.<br /><br />At Mundesley I added the juvenile <span style="color: red;">Glaucous Gull</span> to my Norfolk list and even saw it from the local café while having a nice fry up!<br /><br />Cromer golf course eventually turned up the juvenile <span style="color: red;">Iceland Gull </span>just as we were heading back to the car. This was also a Norfolk tick for me.<br /><br />2 <span style="color: red;">Purple Sandpiper</span> were seen on the seafront rocks at Sheringham.<br /><br />Passing through Weybourne I noticed a flock of about 200 <span style="color: red;">Pink-footed Geese</span> in a roadside field.<br /><br />Stopping off at Salthouse for a flock of <span style="color: red;">Snow Bunting</span> found us 2 <span style="color: red;">Ruff</span> on the flooded field but the buntings didn't play ball.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Egyptian Goose</span> fell at Cley and our final stop at Warham Greens added 2 ringtail <span style="color: red;">Hen Harrier</span> and a pair of <span style="color: red;">Red-breasted Merganser</span> along with a female <span style="color: red;">Merlin</span>. up to 115 for the year.<br /><br />Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-68478028944008605432018-04-26T21:31:00.004+01:002018-04-26T21:31:32.891+01:00Odds and Sods<span style="color: red;">Lesser Redpoll</span> and <span style="color: red;">Nuthatch</span> were seen in Oxhey on the 9th<br /><br />A male<span style="color: red;"> Blackcap</span> was seen in my mums garden on the 14th<br /><br />A female<span style="color: red;"> Bullfinch</span> was seen in Botley, Bucks on the way to the in-laws houseIanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-74409299496804247922018-04-26T21:25:00.000+01:002018-04-26T21:25:49.271+01:00College Lake + Tring - 7.1.18My first visit to the patch in 2018 produced a couple of good birds including <span style="color: red;">Marsh Tit</span> at College Lake and<span style="color: red;"> Peregrine</span>, <span style="color: red;">Raven</span> and <span style="color: red;">Corn Bunting</span> at Tring. I finished the day on 101 species for the year.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-24503303847122043312018-04-26T21:21:00.004+01:002018-04-26T21:21:46.250+01:00Yet More Work! - 4.1.18Just <span style="color: red;">Long-tailed Tit</span> and <span style="color: red;">Jay</span> for the list today.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-2599087789436737572018-04-26T21:17:00.003+01:002018-04-26T21:17:42.426+01:00Work Again - 3.1.183 more species were seen today nudging me into the 90's. <span style="color: red;">Red Kite</span>,<span style="color: red;"> Dunnock</span> and <span style="color: red;">RN Parakeet</span>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-11453560152809080442018-04-26T21:15:00.000+01:002018-04-26T21:20:28.192+01:00Work - 2.1.18Back to work after the Christmas break added 5 more year ticks taking me to 89 species. <span style="color: red;">Redwing</span>, <span style="color: red;">Song Thrush</span>, <span style="color: red;">Blue Tit</span>, <span style="color: red;">GS Woodpecker</span> and <span style="color: red;">Grey Wagtail</span>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-9440541682743291612018-04-26T21:12:00.000+01:002018-04-26T21:12:01.688+01:00Kent - 1.1.18So a new year and a new yearlist. So to get it under way I joined Brendon and Ricky on a day out to the garden of England. The first bird of the day was a <span style="color: red;">Robin</span> singing in the dark outside my house. Our first stop was Harty Ferry where from the raptor watch point we started adding a few birds including <span style="color: red;">Barn Owl</span> which I failed to see in 2017, <span style="color: red;">Marsh Harrier</span>, <span style="color: red;">Merlin</span> and <span style="color: red;">Cetti's Warbler</span>.<br /><br />A quick visit to Shellness to look for 3 <span style="color: red;">Lapland Buntings</span> failed to produce the goods but 5 <span style="color: red;">Red-</span><span style="color: red;">throated Diver</span>, <span style="color: red;">Grey Plover</span> and a few other species were noted.<br /><br />Elmley was our next stop but seeing as you had to pay £5 to enter we didn't stop but we did add <span style="color: red;">House Sparrow</span> and <span style="color: red;">Coot</span>!<br /><br />We then headed to Oare Marshes where despite being told our target bird had flown to the other side of the reserve I managed to pick it out asleep on the island tucked up with a flock of <span style="color: red;">Black-tailed </span><span style="color: red;">Godwits</span>. Thanks to a couple of <span style="color: red;">Mute Swans</span> getting argumentative they walked through the sleeping flock and woke up my 3rd UK <span style="color: red;">Long-billed Dowitcher</span> which then took flight and disappeared. By now it was raining and so after adding <span style="color: red;">Avocet</span>, <span style="color: red;">Bar-tailed Godwit</span> and a showy <span style="color: red;">Water Rail</span> we headed off towards Dungeness.<br /><br />As we drove past the ARC pit I picked out a <span style="color: red;">Great White Egret</span> but we weren't so lucky at Lade GP's where somehow the <span style="color: red;">Slavonian Grebe</span> and <span style="color: red;">Long-tailed Duck</span> managed to avoid our gaze. A look out over the sea at Dungeness added <span style="color: red;">Great&nbsp; Northern Diver</span> to the list and the amazing sight of 100 <span style="color: red;">Great-</span><span style="color: red;">crested Grebe</span> on the sea. A quick look over the ARC pit re-found the <span style="color: red;">GW Egret</span> and whilst I was watching that I noticed movement from the reeds behind it and eventually a <span style="color: red;">Bittern</span> showed fairly well! A <span style="color: red;">Curlew</span> was the final bird of the day and I finished on 84 species. One day ill break 100 for NY Day!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-87741945092398965472018-04-25T21:43:00.000+01:002018-04-25T21:45:02.514+01:002017 ReviewSo another year over and in 2017 I finished with 215 species.<br /><br />Lifers<br /><br />1. Elegant Tern<br />2. American Redstart<br />3. Cedar Waxwing<br />4. Eastern Orphean Warbler<br />5. Rock Thrush<br />6. (Horned Lark)<br /><br />Plus Eastern Yellow Wagtail has been accepted from Lower Moors, Scilly 2016<br /><br />Herts ticks<br /><br />1. Kentish Plover<br />2. White-winged Black Tern<br />3. Parrot CrossbillIanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-63364894392377902842018-04-25T21:28:00.001+01:002018-04-25T21:28:11.910+01:00Great Gaddesden - 31.12.17In my last post I mentioned the words end of the birding year, but with birding you shouldn't count your chickens too soon! A phone call from George Moreton saw me heading 4 miles to the north of home to his local patch where he had found a flock of his favourite bird. <span style="color: red;">Hawfinch</span>! 15 to be precise but all the time I was there I only saw them perched briefly but mostly seen in flight. Not a year tick after my garden fly over earlier in the year but a great record so close to home.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-50861806399820306952018-04-25T21:14:00.001+01:002018-04-25T21:15:41.013+01:00PARROT CROSSBILL!! - 19.12.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pazjGn7cdV0/WuDhxpHcrNI/AAAAAAAACTU/eKVISfILbW0RLuqkAvFKyrajZEKvc8_MQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-176718372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pazjGn7cdV0/WuDhxpHcrNI/AAAAAAAACTU/eKVISfILbW0RLuqkAvFKyrajZEKvc8_MQCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-176718372.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Male Parrot Crossbill</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>With a couple of decent sized flocks of<span style="color: red;"> Parrot Crossbill</span> in Norfolk and Surrey/Berkshire us Hertfordians were daydreaming about them turning up in the county but deep down knowing it was highly unlikely. That was until Barry Reed stumbled across 3 (2 male + 1 female) in Broxbourne Woods on the 18th. Not being able to get there that day I waited on news which thankfully came out early on the 19th and headed over. As I arrived I bumped into Steve Blake who was just returning to his car and he told me where to go. After a few minutes walk I found the small crowd and immediately got onto the 2 males followed 5 minutes later by the female. These were the 1st record for Herts and a great end to the birding year.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-55333707327373810352018-04-25T20:54:00.002+01:002018-04-25T20:57:25.518+01:00HORNED LARK at Staines Reservoir!! - 28.11.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ZtFOqieLdw/WuDdLGtpi4I/AAAAAAAACTI/bTQC0Y09fSYG5XUlkzdrC88_BKPxm5yBACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-964145104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ZtFOqieLdw/WuDdLGtpi4I/AAAAAAAACTI/bTQC0Y09fSYG5XUlkzdrC88_BKPxm5yBACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-964145104.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Horned Lark (honestly!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>A<span style="color: red;"> Shorelark</span> found at Staines Reservoir was re-identified as a 1st winter female North American <span style="color: red;">Horned Lark</span> after photos appeared online.Unfortunately it was very distant when I went so a record shot is all I achieved. As I type this 5 months down the line it has been DNA'd as a <span style="color: red;">Horned Lark</span> and so becomes just the 3rd record for the UK. Fingers crossed for a future armchair split tick!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-23468690894684801342018-04-25T20:49:00.003+01:002018-04-25T20:51:16.285+01:00Hilfield Reservoir - 19.11.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T31x5C-aTdU/WuDcBsgY5TI/AAAAAAAACS8/igpWohcKyzUMVRfXGtp4c0DvqP5YShxzwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-118142707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T31x5C-aTdU/WuDcBsgY5TI/AAAAAAAACS8/igpWohcKyzUMVRfXGtp4c0DvqP5YShxzwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-118142707.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Whooper Swans</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>Just over a month since I last went birding I popped over to my old patch to see the 10 <span style="color: red;">Whooper</span> <span style="color: red;">Swans</span> that had arrived mid morning. I timed it perfectly as after no more than 5 minutes or so viewing they took flight and headed north. They were later seen in Cambridgeshire. The group contained 2 adults and 8 juveniles. I had seen a couple of <span style="color: red;">Whooper's</span> in Herts in the past but couldn't find any notes on them so these become my first noted/official birds for the county.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7315209620151937080.post-36784273700768865782018-04-25T20:43:00.001+01:002018-04-25T20:44:24.225+01:00Wilstone - 31.8.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-AqWqN0qTM/WuDabg6VwlI/AAAAAAAACSw/GAxxONfv1_whtg-fK-sW47nod7vb4zkBACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--2002210485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-AqWqN0qTM/WuDabg6VwlI/AAAAAAAACSw/GAxxONfv1_whtg-fK-sW47nod7vb4zkBACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--2002210485.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Pink-footed Goose</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>Totally forgot to add this record so here it is! Whilst sat in the hide I suddenly noticed that there was a <span style="color: red;">Pink-footed Goose</span> in front of me! Strange time of year but on the year list it goes!Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15003805486095178409noreply@blogger.com0